oompah
oompah Lexical Profile
oompah Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to or denoting a style of traditional brass band music characterized by a rhythmic, alternating bass accompaniment, typically associated with German beer halls and polkas.
"The festival tent was filled with the lively sounds of an oompah band playing traditional Bavarian polkas."
• noun
The deep, rhythmic, two-beat sound produced by a bass brass instrument such as a tuba, or the style of lively brass band music featuring this accompaniment.
"The steady oompah of the tuba echoed across the town square during the autumn parade."
Energetic vigor, enthusiasm, or lively appeal.
"The marketing campaign had plenty of initial oompah, but sales quickly leveled off."
• interjection
Used to vocally imitate the rhythmic bass and offbeat accompaniment of a tuba or brass band.
"The children marched around the living room shouting "oompah, oompah" as they pretended to play giant tubas."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as an onomatopoeic imitation of the alternating deep bass note and higher chordal accompaniment characteristic of tubas and horns in a brass band.